Magnetic strip threader



Nov. 16, 1965 A. M. GOMBOS MAGNETIC STRIP THREADER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed pril 1, 1964 VN WM NM INVENTOR. I4 D PEW M. 60/2/1505 1965 A. M. GOMBOS 3,218,001

' MAGNETIC STRIP THREADER Filed April 1, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. AA/PEEW M 60M50s Nov. 16, 1965 A. M. GOMBOS MAGNETIC STRIP THREADER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 1, 1964 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

AND/FEW M Go/mws Nov. 16, 1965 Filed April 1, 1964 A. M. GOMBOS 3,218,001

MAGNETIC STRIP THREADER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ANDREW M. 6 0/1/1505 United States Patent 3,218,6tll MAGNETIC SIRE? THREADER Andrew M. Gornhos, Beaver Falls, la., assignor to Blaw- Knox Company, Pittsburgh, Pa.., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 35,545 8 laims. (Cl. 242-783) This invention relates to apparatus for uncoiling metal strip, and more particularly to such apparatus embodying magnet means for opening a coil of magnetic strip material and conveying the leading end portion of the strip to a predetermined location where the strip can be engaged by subsequent means.

In initially passing the leading end portion of a coiled metal strip to the means that engages the leading end of the strip, such as pinch rolls at the beginning of a processing line, numerous problems must be solved. The leading end portion of the strip usually is unwieldy, particularly if it is of considerable width, as is usually the case. The strip tends to bend or distort and thereby become damaged, with resulting waste of material, and difliculties in and costs of removing the damaged material. If the strip is of considerable thickness its stiffness and weight cause added problems along these lines. Furthermore, it is often diificult to peel the leading end of the strip from the coil to enable it to be separated and passed to the means that engages the strip. When, as is usually the case, the operations of peeling the leading end portion of the strip from the coil and passing it to and engaging it with the subsequent engaging means are performed manually, they are time-consuming, often require great physical effort, and occasionally even involve danger.

It is an object of the present invention to solve the problems involved in peeling the leading end portion of a metal strip from a coil and conducting it to and engaging it with the means that engages the strip and to overcome the above indicated disadvantages and difiiculties of prior practices. A further object is the provision of apparatus and method for peeling of the leading end portion of a strip from a coil and transferring it to the subsequent engaging means without the use of manual effort, without damage to the leading end portion of the strip, and at substantial time savings. A further object is the provision of such apparatus that is simple in operation, rugged in construction, and that can be manufactured at reasonable cost.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of apparatus embodying the invention, along line 1-1 of FIGURE 2, a coil of strip material being shown in broken lines as mounted on a mandrel, and coil elevator means and means for operating on the leading end portion of the strip shown in full lines and in broken lines to indicate the range of movement;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG- URE 1, partially in section and taken generally along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 3 to 6, inclusive, diagrammatically illustrate one method of operating the illustrated apparatus; and

FIGURES 7 to 10, inclusive, diagrammatically illustrate another method of operating the apparatus.

In the illustrated apparatus, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, numeral 1 designates a conventional mandrel that is adapted to support and rotate a coil mounted on it, a coil C of strip material being shown in broken lines as mounted on the mandrel. This mandrel 1 is rotatably mounted in a bearing block 2 (FIGURE 2) that is slidably mounted in guide members 3 so that in the convendfildfiill Patented Nov. 16, 1965 tional manner the mandrel can be extended to the position shown in full lines and retracted to the position indicated by the broken lines 1, by fluid cylinder means 4. The mandrel is conventionally rotated as required by a shaft 5 connected to a suitable source of power. Mandrel 1 is rotatable about and reciprocable along axis A.

It is intended that, after operation of the illustrated apparatus has started, the leading end of the strip S from a coil C on the mandrel 1 (FIGURE 1'0) will travel to initial pinch rolls 6 and 7 and succeeding pinch rolls 8 and 9 (FIGURE 1) defining a pass plane P along which the strip passes to subsequent conventional apparatus for processing, or operating on, the strip; such subsequent apparatus may include a shear, welding apparatus for welding the sheared leading end of the coil strip to the sheared tail end of the preceding strip, and subsequent processing means, in the conventional manner. In the illustrated apparatus, the axes of the initial pinch rolls 6 and 7 preferably lie in a vertical plane containing the axis A of the mandrel and the upper pinch roll 6 is movable away from the lower pinch roll 7 in a conventional manner to permit ready entry of the leading end of the strip. Pinch rolls 6, 7, 8, and 9 are positively rotated by conventional means, not shown.

Other conventional apparatus illustrated is a coil elevator 11 (FIGURES 1 and 3-10) comprising rotatable blocker rolls 12 and 13 adapted to be positively driven by suitable means such as sprockets 14, and chains 16 and 17 from a suitable source of power, such as a geared motor 13.

The elevator is adapted to be raised or lowered by a piston rod 19 (FIGURES 3-10) that travels in a cylinder 29 carried on a wheeled trolley 21 that conventionally travels on tracks 22 and is adapted to be moved along the tracks by fluid-operated cylinder 23 from an oifside loading position in which a coil can be loaded on the blocker rolls l2 and 13 to a position below the mandrel in which the elevator can load the coil on to the mandrel in a conventional manner.

The illustrated apparatus (FIGURES 1 and 2) also comprises a base portion, generally indicated by numeral 24, comprising front and rear upright walls 25 and 26 (FIGURE 2) connected by cross members including top member 27. Rear wall 26 is shaped to permit the mandrel 1 to be extended and retracted past the wall. Guard plates 28 are supported from walls 25 and 26.

A cross beam 31 is pivotally supported about an axis B transversely of walls 25 and 26 by hearing blocks 32. Cantilever arms 33, 34, and 35 are rigidly fixed to the cross beam 31 with their outer ends rigidly connected by transverse member 36. Bearing members 37 rigidly fixed at the ends of arms 33 and 3 5 rotatably support a shaft 38 on which is rigidly mounted a magnet roll 39. Roll 39 preferably is formed of permanently highly magnetized metal of known composition.

Roll 89 is positively rotated as required by a sprocket 41 mounted on an end of shaft 38 and driven by a chain 42 passing over a sprocket 43 that is positively rotated as required by a geared motor 44 mounted on arm 35.

Magnet roll 39 is moved about pivotal axis B by a piston rod 45 that is pivotally connected to transverse member 36 and is actuated as required by fluid-operated cylinder '46 pivotally connected to the cross member 27 of frame 24 of the apparatus. By suitable actuation of cylinder 46 the magnet roll 39 can be moved in an arcuate path to any position between lower and upper positions, as shown in FIGURE 1 in which the roll 39 and its supporting arms are shown in full lines in a lower position in which the roller can engage coil C and in broken lines in an uppermost or idle position.

The illustrated apparatus also includes means for engaging the free end of the strip of a coil and peeling it away from the coil to a position where it can be engaged by the magnet roll. This means, shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, comprises a frame 51 that is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis by bearing members 52 fixed to a portion of base portion 24 of the apparatus. Frame 51 can be moved to any one of a range of positions about its pivotal axis by a piston rod 53 pivotally connected to the underside of the frame 51 and actuated by fluidoperated cylinder 54 pivotally connected at its lower end to the base portion 24. A stop member 55 on portion 24 limits the lower movement of frame 51, while upper movement is limited by the piston rod 53.

Frame 51 slidably supports a chisel member 56 having a strip-engaging edge that extends essentially parallel to the axis A of mandrel 1 and hence to the axis of the coil mounted on the mandrel or supported on the block rolls 12 and 13, and also has a length that is equivalent to a major portion of the width of the strip S of the coil. This chisel member is rigidly fixed at its ends to spaced parallel rods 57 that are slidably mounted in guide portions 58 and S9 at the inner sides of frame 51. The chisel member 56 is movable to desired positions toward or away from a coil on the mandrel, by the piston rod 61 of a fluid-actuated cylinder member 62 mounted in frame 51.

One preferred method of operating the apparatus can be understood by reference to FIGURES 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10. Assuming that there is no coil in the apparatus, and that the mandrel 1 is retracted and the magnet roll 39 is in its elevated idle position, the sequence of operations is as follows. A coil C is first placed in the conventional manner on the blocker rolls 1'2; and 13 of the elevator 11 when it is located in its loading position at the side of the space to be occupied by the mandrel when extended. The elevator is then moved along its tracks 22 until the axis of the coil is located below the axis of the mandrel if extended, as diagrammatically shown in FIGURE 3.

The elevator 11 is then partially raised to a position Where the outside of the coil can be contacted by the lowered magnet roll 39, the blocker rolls 12 and 13 are then simultaneously rotated, either in clockwise or counterclockwise direction, until the leading end portion E of the strip S of the coil C is in the proper position to be engaged by the lowered magnet roll 39, and the magnet roll is then moved downwardly in an arcuate path about the axis B until it engages the leading end portion E of the strip; the conditions then are as illustrated in FIGURE 4.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the magnet roll 39 is then raised to an intermediate position while the blocker rolls 12 and 13 are rotated to form a feeding loop L of the strip S. This feeding loop has a dual purpose: it first opens the coil and thus prepares it for further processing; it then provides a sufiicient free length of the strip to allow ready feeding to the pinch rolls 6 and 7.

The magnet roll 39 to which the leading end portion of the strip S magnetically adheres is then raised to a position where the strip leading end portion E can feed between the pinch rolls 6 and 7 which are preferably separated to facilitate this; the magnet roll is then positively rotated, by operation of motor 44, either clockwise or counterclockwise as required to feed the leading end portion E between the pinch rolls 6 and 7 as shown in FIGURE 6.

The opened pinch rolls are then closed on the strip. The magnet roll 39 and the blocker rolls 12 and 13 are rotated in suitable directions to cause the leading end E of the strip to feed between the pinch rolls 6 and 7 and subsequent rolls, which are also rotated; preferably, the rotations of the magnet roll 39 and the blocker rolls 12 and 13 at this stage are synchronized by suitable conventional means both as to directions of rotation and speed so that the leading end of the strip can be fed between the rolls 6, '7, 8, and 9 and until it is firmly engaged by these rolls, which may be rotated, if desired, to facilitate this. The rotation of the magnet roll and the blocker rolls is then halted and elevator 11 is raised sufficiently to cause the axis of the coil to coincide substantially with the axis of the mandrel, which is then extended to engage and support the coil. The magnet roll 39 is then raised to its idle position and the elevator 11 is lowered to its lowermost position, after which the pinch rolls 6 and 7 and succeeding rolls are rotated to draw the strip S from the coil C as it rotates on the mandrel. The conditions are then as shown in FIGURE 10.

An alternate method can be understood by reference to FIGURES 3, 7, 8, 9, and 10. It is assumed that the mandrel is retracted, the magnet roll 39 is in its elevated idle position, and a coil C that has been set upon the blocker rolls '12 and 13 of the elevator has been moved into the position shown in FIGURE 3.

The elevator 11 is then raised until the axis of the coil is substantially coincident with the axis A of the mandrel, and the mandrel 1 is extended so that it engages and supports the coil C. The blocker rolls 12 and 13 then are rotated in a suitable clockwise or counterclockwise direction to rotate the coil until its leading end portion E is in the proper position to be engaged by the magnet roll when it is lowered into contact with the coil, as shown in FIG- URE 7.

The magnet roll 39 is then raised by being moved about its pivotal axis P until it is a susbtantial distance above the top of the coil C, after which the blocker rolls 12 and 13 are rotated in a suitable direction to form the feeding loop L as shown in FIGURE 8.

The magnet roll 39 is then raised so that the leading end portion E of the strip S is directed toward the space between the first pinch rolls 6 and 7, which are preferably separated for that purpose, and the magnet roll 39 and blocker rolls 12 and 13 are positively rotated by their motors in the proper directions at the proper speed to cause the leading end portion E of the strip to extend between the pinch rolls 6 and 7, the direction and speed of rotation of the various rolls being preferably synchronized as indicated above; the conditions are then as illustrated in FIGURE 9.

Thereafter, the pinch rolls 6 and 7 are closed, the magnet roll 39 is lifted to its raised or idle position, the elevator 11 is moved to its lowermost position, and the strip S is completely started through the pinch rolls as shown in FIGURE 10.

Of course, if the mandrel 1 is adapted to be powerrotated and its rotation can be accurately controlled, then the rotation of the coil while it is on the mandrel can be effected by the mandrel and not by the blocker rolls, which can be disengaged during the threading operation.

For lighter gauge metals, it is not necessary to utilize the chisel member 56 for peeling the leading end of the strip off the coil, so member 56 can be retained in its retracted position shown in full lines in FIGURES 1 and 2. If, however, the material of which the strip is formed is so stiff that the leading end of the strip cannot be readily peeled from the coil by the magnet roll 39 alone, then cylinder .62 can be operated to cause the chisel member '56 to engage the leading end of the coil when it is in the positions shown in either FIGURE 4 or FIGURE 7, While the coil is slowly rotated by the blocker rolls or by the mandrel if it is mounted on the mandrel and the mandrel is capable of suitable rotation, such rotation being continued until the leading few inches of the strip are peeled from the coil. In the illustrated apparatus this rotation would be a clockwise direction; thereafter, the rotation would be reversed so that the leading end of the strip which has been separated from the coil can be engaged by the magnet roll as shown in either FIGURE 4 or FIG- URE 7, and the process of threading can be carried out as described above.

The above operations can be carried out rapidly and the leading end portion of the strips of the coil C can thus be rapidly engaged, peeled from the coil, and transported and fed to the pinch rolls 6 and 7 or other means that is to engage the strip, the positive rotation of the magnet roll 39 and the synchronization of its rotation with blocker rolls 1 2 and 13, and with pinch rolls 6 and 7 when desired, being important in accomplishing this. It is not necessary to move or guide the strip manually; the entire operation can be carried out mechanically by the illustrated apparatus within a short time, with great safety, and with no damage to the strip itself or to the apparatus contacted by the coil or strip.

Various modifications may be made in the illustrated apparatus. Thus, it is not necessary to use a traversing coil elevator since the elevator can be fixed under the mandrel and the coil moved on to it in a known manner. While the apparatus will operate entirely satisfactorily in most if not all cases when the magnet roll is a permanent magnet, it is possible to have the magnet roll an electromagnet which is magnetized only when needed; this can be accomplished by known means.

These and other modifications of the illustrated embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty reside in the invention.

I claim:

11. Apparatus for uncoiling metal strip comprising means for rotatably supporting a coil, means for actuating said supporting means to rotate the coil angularly about its axis, a magnet roll, means for supporting said magnet roll so it can move toward and away from the coil, and means for positively rotating said magnet roll.

2. Apparatus for uncoiling metal strip comprising means for rotatably supporting a coil, means for actuating said supporting means to rotate the coil angularly about its axis, means defining a pass plane along which strip from said coil may pass, a magnet roll, means for supporting said magnet roll so it can move between a position in which it engages the periphery of a coil to a position in which it is adjacent the entering side of said means defining a pass plane, and means for positively rotating said magnet roll.

3. Apparatus for uncoiling metal strip comprising means for rotatably supporting a coil, means for actuating said rotatable means to rotate the coil angularly about its axis, a pair of pinch rolls to which strip from said coil may pass, a magnet roll, means for supporting said magnet roll so it can move between a position in which it is substantially tangential to the coil to a position in which it is substantially tangential to said pinch rolls, and means for positively rotating said magnet roll.

4. Apparatus for uncoiling metal strip comprising means for rotatably supporting a coil, means for actuating said rotatable means to rotate the coil angularly about its axis, a pair of pinch rolls mounted above said coil supporting means substantially parallel to the axis of the coil carried by said coil supporting means, a magnet roll, means movably supporting said magnet roll so its axis is substantially parallel to the axis of a coil on said coil supporting means, said magnet roll supporting means being adapted to support said roll for pivotal movement about an axis substantially parallel to a coil on said supporting means between a position in which said magnet roll is in close proximity to the surface of the coil to a posit-ion in which said magnet roll is in proximity to said pinch rolls, and means for positively rotating said magnet roll in each of said positions.

5. Apparatus for uncoiling metal strip comprising an extensible and retractable mandrel for supporting a coil thereon When it is extended; elevator means for raising a coil from a position in which its axis is below said mandrel to a position in which its axis is essentially coincident with the axis of said mandrel when extended; means for rotatably supporting said coil on said elevator means; means for actuating said means on said elevator means to rotate the coil angularly about its axis; a magnet roll; means for supporting said magnet roll so it can move toward and away from the coil; and means for positively rotating said magnet roll.

6. Apparatus for uncoiling metal strip comprising an extensible and retractable mandrel for supporting a coil thereon when it is extended; elevator means for raising a coil from a position in which its axis is below said mandrel to a. position in which its axis is essentially coincident with the axis of said mandrel when extended; means for rotatably supporting said coil on said elevator means; means for actuating said means on said elevator means to rotate the coil angularly about its axis; a pair of pinch rolls mounted above said coil supporting means substantially parallel to the axis of the coil carried by said coil supporting means; a magnet roll; means movably supporting said magnet roll so its axis is essentially parallel to the axis of a coil on said coil supporting means and to the axis of said mandrel, said magnet roll supporting means being adapted to support said roll for pivotal movement about an axis essentially parallel to the axis of said magnet roll between a position in which said magnet roll is in close proximity to the surface of the coil to a position in which said magnet roll is in proximity to said pinch rolls; and means for positively rotating said magnet roll in each of said positions.

7. A method of removing the leading end portion of a strip of magnetic material from a coil of said strip material and feeding it to means for receiving said strip material, comprising rotating a coil of said strip material until the leading end portion of said strip material is in a predetermined angular location on said coil, moving a magnet roll to said coil until said roll engages said leading end portion while it is in said predetermined position on said coil, moving said magnet roll away from said coil while said leading end portion of said strip material adheres by magnetic attraction to said magnet roll, rotating the coil to form a loop of strip material between the coil and the magnet roll, moving said magnet roll into proximity to said strip receiving means, and rotating said magnet roll to cause said leading end portion of said strip material to feed to said strip receiving means.

8. A method of removing the leading end portion of a strip of magnetic material from a coil of said strip material and feeding it to means for receiving said strip material, comprising rotating a coil of said strip material until the leading end portion of said strip material is in a predetermined angular location on said coil, moving a magnet roll to said coil until said roll engages said leading end portion while it is in said predetermined position on said coil, moving said magnet roll away from said coil while said leading end portion of said strip material adheres by magnetic attraction to said magnet roll, rotating the coil to form a loop of strip material between the coil and the magnet roll, moving said magnet roll into proximity to said strip receiving means, and rotating said coil and said magnet roll to cause said leading end portion of said strip material to feed to said strip receiving means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,140,928 12/1938 Talbot et al 24278.8 2,321,878 6/1943 Tyrrell 24278.8

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR UNCOILING METAL STRIP COMPRISING MEANS FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING A COIL, MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID SUPPORTING MEANS TO ROTATE THE COIL ANGULARLY ABOUT ITS AXIS, A MAGNET ROLL, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID MAGNET ROLL SO IT CAN MOVE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE COIL, AND MEANS FOR POSITIVELY ROTATING SAID MAGNET ROLL. 